Summerfield man sentenced on drug charges

Austin L. Miller @almillerosb

Tuesday

Aug 27, 2019 at 10:57 AM

Scott Joseph Derringer, 50, was sentenced to three years in prison after entering a guilty plea and avoiding a jury trial on Monday.

A Summerfield man arrested last year by members of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team on multiple drug charges and battery on a law enforcement officer has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Scott Joseph Derringer, 50, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Steven Rogers after entering a guilty plea and avoiding a jury trial on Monday.

Derringer has credit for 317 days and is presently at the Marion County Jail.

In October 2018, drug officials went to Derringer’s residence, in the 10100 block of Southeast 149th Lane, because they had probable cause to arrest him in another investigation, according to an arrest report. Derringer came outside the home when a woman knocked on the door.

Agents, who were already outside, told Derringer that he needed to come with them so they could take him to the Sheriff's Office for an interview with a detective.

Derringer told the agents that he needed to wash his hands. Agents told him that they would accompany him inside, and Derringer agreed to that, according to the report. While inside, Derringer changed his mind and wanted the agents to leave.

As agents handcuffed Derringer, he and the agents tussled, the report says. Near him, agents reported finding a small zipper pouch with 11 baggies containing heroin, three suboxone sub-lingual strips and rolling papers.

They searched the man and reported finding a bag of marijuana and $2,675 in cash.

Derringer was taken to the MCSO, where he was interviewed by Detective John Lightle. Derringer told the detectivee the marijuana was his but denied having the heroin. After the interview, Derringer was charged and taken to the jail.

Originally, sheriff’s officials wanted to talk with him about an inmate suspected of concealing and introducing fentanyl into the jail. Authorities said Derringer told the inmate, later identified as Jennifer Patrick, to hold onto the deadly drug and not do anything with it.

Sheriff’s officials said Patrick, 25, had possession of fentanyl while at the jail. In telephone conversations between Patrick and a man believed to be Derringer, Patrick was heard telling him how she was able to conceal the drug so it would not be detected.

The male on the phone told Patrick he was going to try to get more drugs and for her not to do anything because he was going to need it.

In November, Patrick was indicted on first-degree murder, along with introducing contraband into a detention facility and possession of a controlled substance. Patrick’s murder charge stems from the alleged delivery of drugs to fellow inmate Lorraine Gardner, 22, who died Sept. 7, 2018, of a drug overdose.